"What can we do?" A common phrase you will hear when discussing the problems we all face. Well, if one were to rethink that question, with no additional words or letters the phrase is transformed from a question to a predicate to action; "What WE can do...is..." The luxury of remaining proudly unaware of the world around us has been drowned in the tears of those afflicted by the current societal and economic situation. "There is no longer any social necessity
for human beings to be treated as mechanical elements in the productive
process; that can be overcome, and we must overcome it, by a society of
freedom and free association, in which the creative urge that I
consider intrinsic to human nature will in fact be able to realize
itself in whatever way it will..." - Noam ChomskyHere we offer a practical and tactical approach to help you get more involved with the planet we share.

PUT YOUR WORDS TO ACTION:
Take a topic you've talked about for years and think to yourself, "I've thought about this enough. How can I get involved in more than just a topical argument? What can I DO to change the things I tell people I care about?"

DON'T OVERPROMISE YOUR EFFORTS:
This has been the enemy to every organization [including ours] and many of those who are well-intended. Remember, even if you keep your focus on the mission of whatever issue you are trying to address, most of those that are moved to join in your efforts are doing so because they want to believe in you. If you disappoint them, they may leave the overall movement.

USE YOUR SKILLSET:
Inevitably, everyone has a skill that could help someone. For instance, a telemarketer could volunteer at a call center for the elderly. Or maybe you are a graphic designer who could donate a design for a catchy ad for a women's crisis center. Or maybe you're a business manager that could help a local organization create a better strategic business model. You get the idea. The more you use and develop your entire skill set to the advantage of your objective[s], the more
effective you will be. YOUR LANGUAGE MATTERS:
The only way you can relay a message is through speech and text [or sign language for our deaf sisters and brothers]. The words you use matter. Make sure that when you present a message that there is a positive focus, even if the thing you are addressing is negative. Before you present a message, think of how people can positively affect the issue you are trying to give awareness.

YOUR RELIGION MATTERS...BUT ONLY TO YOU:
When having gatherings and/or conversation, don't try to get someone to "convert" to your beliefs. Whether you are talking about religion specifically or you merely want to get them to completely agree with you, your point and information are lost while you try to scream them into submission. Even though it's difficult to keep your cool, especially when you are passionate about the subject, when you meet someone who is undereducated about an issue, give them your perspective and your point should be to provide information and sources on the topic. When you can calmly prove the relevance of your information base, you can help others learn and expand your own...without aggressive conflict.

MENTORING ONLY COSTS YOU YOUR TIME:
For a mere few hours a month you could change the direction of a under-privileged person or help an over-privileged person understand how lucky they are and the social responsibility that comes with it. Mentoring doesn't only mean the wealthy helping poor people from single-parent homes. Everyone could benefit from the friendship of an experienced, non-judgemental elder. Likewise, every elder could benefit from discussing new, innovative ways to see and do things.

YOU CAN HELP STOP PEOPLE FROM USING DISRESPECTFUL LANGUAGE:
When you hear people using foul language [nigger, basic profanity and the like] as common speech, you can give them tools to help them understand that it is inappropriate. For instance, if you hear someone cursing up a storm in the subway or somewhere in public, look around, if you see a child or an elder, go to the person using the language and say very politely; "Excuse me, could you please watch your language, there is a child/elder present." This serves two objectives. Firstly, it reduces the chance that the person/people will see your words as confrontational. Second, it will help them learn/think about what appropriate language is, even when there is no one there to tell them.

DISCUSS THINGS THAT MATTER AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE:
This is probably the most important and easiest thing we all can do. Educate yourself about the relevant social issues of your choice and discuss them with as many people as possible, as often as you can. The more you read and talk about Brittney, some sports star or whomever, that's a missed chance to educate and be educated. But remember, you want to have conversations, not arguments. Be more willing to ask questions. Then everyone wins.

In the motivational words of Malcolm X;

#1- "Don't be in a hurry to condemn because he [someone] doesn't do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn't know what you know today."

#2- "Stumbling is not falling."

#3- "There is no better teacher than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time."

We are also seeking your solutions. You may be doing something or are addressing an issue in a way that might be helpful for someone who is trying to do the same or something similar.